St. Paul's to present Lessons and Carols

Special to The Dispatch

December 8, 2012 5:44:01 PM

The season of Advent reaches its musical high point Dec. 16 when the choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Columbus presents a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The annual service will be at 6 p.m. and feature the choir in carols and anthems that accompany nine biblical passages.

The passages start with Old Testament prophesies of the coming of the Messiah and conclude with New Testament accounts of the birth of Jesus. The Rev. Anne Harris will welcome those attending, and organist Steve Hohnstadt will accompany the choir.

"We will welcome everyone to this joyful service," said the Rev. Harris. "It combines the expectations of Advent with the proclamations of Christmas in music we all love.

"This is also a musical ministry to our city -- an hour of peace and tranquility in the midst of the Christmas rush," she said.

St. Paul's uses the version of the service begun at King's College of Cambridge University on Christmas Eve, 1918. The school repeats the service each year for a worldwide broadcast.

Among the carols planned are "O Come, O Come Emmnuel," "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," and "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending."

"Advent and Christmas are happy seasons for the musical community in Columbus," Hohnstadt said. "They make for a time of many musical traditions. St. Paul's is happy to continue this contribution to the musical life of the city."

St. Paul's Church will also offer its traditional Christmas Eve services at 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Dec. 24 and services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Christmas Day.

For more information, contact the church office, 662-328-6673 or visit stpaulscolumbus.com.